System and method for interchangeable trigger for archery release

ABSTRACT

Embodiments of the present invention include systems and methods that enable archers to select and interchange various styles of interchangeable triggers, including one-finger and two-finger triggers, for use in an archery release. The interchangeable triggers advantageously enable an archer to customize the archery release with regard to increasing the archer&#39;s comfort and improving the archer&#39;s shooting performance.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application claims the benefit under 35 U.S.C. §119 (e) of U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 62/129,456, filed Mar. 6, 2015, which is herein incorporated by reference in its entirety.

FIELD OF EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION

Embodiments of the present invention generally relate to archery releases, and, more particularly, to archery releases having interchangeable triggers, as well as to methods of using such archery releases.

BACKGROUND OF EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION

Archery releases for bowstrings have been used for years. These releases, which are popular with archers using compound bows, are mechanical devices that retain a bowstring in a drawn position until an archer activates a trigger on the release, obviating the need for an archer to draw and hold the bowstring using his or her fingers. Upon activation of the trigger by the archer, the release lets the bowstring go, firing the arrow.

The use of an archery release, particularly with a compound bow, provides several benefits. First, use of a release reduces the risk of a bow “dry-firing” before an arrow has been mounted on the drawn bowstring, and thereby also reduces the risk of injury to an archer and the risk of the bow being damaged by the dry-firing. Additionally, when using an archery release, the archer no longer has to repeatedly use the muscles of the fingers to hold the drawn bowstring in place, adding to the archer's comfort by relieving the repeated tension and stress on the archer's fingers. Furthermore, use of an archery release device results in a more consistent, replicable release motion of the bow string, which can increase an archer's accuracy.

While various designs for archery releases have been known for years, these designs suffer from various deficiencies. Each archer has a different style of shooting, and different archers will accordingly want to use archery release triggers that require varying amounts of force to pull or push. If the force required to pull an archery release's trigger is not compatible with an archer's desired configuration, it may result in the archer “punching” the trigger, which is a form fault that generally involves a sudden action rather than a smooth release. For example, an archer's entire hand may move when activating a trigger, or an archer's thumb may forcefully come into contact with and strike a trigger to execute release. A sudden hand movement or forceful strike detracts from the archer's shot accuracy. While some existing archery releases feature a limited ability to control the amount of force needed to activate the trigger of the release, the control offered by these existing designs is comparatively coarse and does not allow for the precise control desired by archers.

We have discovered that there is a need for archery releases that allow archers to effectively and precisely customize the amount of force needed to pull or push the trigger of the archery release. We have also discovered that such archery releases would advantageously optimize not only the comfort of archers, but also improve the accuracy of an archer's shot as well, by ensuring that each archer's archery release can be customized to their particular style of shooting and preferred configuration.

SUMMARY OF EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION

Embodiments of the present invention are directed to archery releases. The archery releases include a body, a retaining portion for retaining a string of a bow in a drawn position, a first trigger portion, and an interchangeable second trigger portion coupled to the first trigger portion.

In certain embodiments, the first trigger portion is coupled to the interchangeable second trigger portion via a fastener. In further embodiments, the fastener can be a screw. In other further embodiments, the fastener can be a rivet. In still other further embodiments, the fastener can be a pin.

In certain embodiments, the retaining portion can be a hook. In other embodiments, the retaining portion can be a set of two calipers.

In certain embodiments, the interchangeable second trigger portion can be a one-finger trigger. In other embodiments, the interchangeable second trigger portion can be a two-finger trigger. In still other embodiments, the interchangeable second trigger portion can be a three- or four-finger trigger.

In certain embodiments, the interchangeable second trigger portion can be a pull trigger. In other embodiments, the interchangeable second trigger portion can be a push trigger.

In certain embodiments, the interchangeable second trigger portion can be a ring trigger.

Embodiments of the present invention are also directed to methods of using an archery release. The methods include selecting a trigger of a desired style, coupling that selected trigger to an attachment portion of an archery release, drawing a string of a bow while retaining the string with the archery release, and firing the bow by activating the trigger and releasing the string. In certain embodiments, the selected trigger is a pull trigger, and activating the trigger includes pulling the trigger. In certain other embodiments, the selected trigger is a push trigger, and activating the trigger includes pushing the trigger.

In certain embodiments, the selected trigger can be a ring trigger, and activating the trigger includes either pushing the trigger or pulling the trigger.

In certain embodiments, the selected trigger can be a one-finger trigger, and activating the trigger includes activating the one-finger trigger with one finger.

In certain embodiments, the selected trigger can be a two-finger trigger, and activating the trigger includes activating the two-finger trigger with one finger. In other embodiments, the selected trigger can be a two-finger trigger, and activating the trigger includes activating the two-finger trigger with two fingers. In other embodiments, the selected trigger can be a three-finger trigger, and activating the trigger includes activating the three-finger trigger with one, two, or three fingers. In still other embodiments, the selected trigger can be a four-finger trigger, and activating the trigger includes activating the four-finger trigger with one, two, three, or four fingers.

In certain embodiments, coupling the selected trigger to the attachment portion includes attaching the selected trigger to the attachment portion using fastener, such as a screw, rivet or a pin.

In certain embodiments, the methods of using an archery release further include decoupling the selected trigger from the attachment portion and coupling a new trigger to the attachment portion, wherein the selected trigger has a first style and the new trigger has a second style different than the first style.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 depicts a side view of a compound bow with its bowstring drawn and retained by an embodiment of an arrow release of the present invention.

FIG. 2 depicts a magnified view of the arrow release shown in FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 depicts a side view of an embodiment of an arrow release with an interchangeable one-finger trigger.

FIG. 4 depicts a side view of an embodiment of an arrow release with an interchangeable two-finger trigger.

FIG. 5 depicts an exploded perspective view of an embodiment of the arrow release with an interchangeable one-finger trigger depicted in FIG. 3.

FIG. 6 depicts an exploded perspective view of an embodiment of the arrow release with an interchangeable two-finger trigger depicted in FIG. 4.

FIG. 7 depicts a side view of an embodiment of the arrow release with an interchangeable one-finger trigger depicted in FIG. 5.

FIG. 8 depicts a side view of an embodiment of the arrow release with an interchangeable two-finger trigger depicted in FIG. 6.

FIG. 9 depicts a side view of an embodiment of an arrow release with an interchangeable ring trigger.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION

FIG. 1 shows a side view of a compound bow 100 with its bowstring 110 drawn and retained by archery release 120. The archery release 120 is used by an archer to draw the bowstring 110 of the bow 100 and hold the bowstring 110 in a drawn position, allowing an arrow (not depicted) to be mounted on bowstring 110 and then released when the archer activates a trigger of the archery release 120.

FIG. 2 depicts a magnified view of the archery release 120 depicted in FIG. 1, as that release 120 retains the bowstring 110 in a drawn position. The bowstring 110 is retained by retaining portion 122 of the release 120. Retaining portion 122 can be a hook that is freed to rotate relative to the body 130 of the release 120 when the trigger is activated by an archer. However, other mechanisms for retaining bowstring 110 can be substituted and utilized as the retaining portion 122, such as the matching pair of jaws of a caliper-style release mechanism.

The body 130 of the archery release 120 is attached to strap attachment portion 133 via a fastener 131, which allows the body 130 to pivot up to 90 degrees relative to strap attachment portion 133 to allow for an archer's comfort and provide maneuverability and flexibility while aiming the bow 100 and preparing to shoot. Strap attachment portion 133 is attached to wrist strap 135, which secures the release around an archer's wrist during use.

The archery release 120 can include several different materials, including metal alloys such as aluminum, steel, and titanium alloys, ceramics, composites, and polymers.

Retaining portion 122 releases the bowstring 110 when an archer activates the trigger of the archery release 120. In embodiments, the trigger is a two-piece trigger that includes a first trigger portion 124 that is attached to body 130, and an interchangeable second trigger portion 128 that is attached to the first trigger portion 124 via a fastener 126. Fastener 126 can be a screw, a rivet, a pin, or another pin-style fastening mechanism.

The interchangeable second trigger portion 128 and first trigger portion 124 can be made from an aluminum alloy, such as 6061-T6, 2024-T3, or 7075-T6. However, interchangeable second trigger portion 128 and first trigger portion 124 can also be made from other aluminum alloys, steel or titanium alloys, ceramics, composites, and/or polymers.

Retaining portion 122 can be made from a stainless or carbon steel alloy, and can be manufactured using powder metallurgy techniques. However, retaining portion 122 can be made from other materials, such as other steel alloys, aluminum alloys, titanium alloys, ceramics, composites, and/or polymers.

In the archery release 120 illustrated in FIGS. 2, 3, 5, and 7, the interchangeable second trigger portion 128 is a one-finger trigger, which has a curved surface that is designed to allow an archer to shoot the bow by activating the second trigger portion 128 with a single finger. The one-finger trigger 128 can be either a “push”-style or a “pull”-style trigger. A “pull” style trigger is a trigger activated when an archer squeezes his or her finger(s) on the trigger to “pull” the trigger towards the archer's palm. A “push” style trigger is activated when an archer flexes his or her finger(s) on the trigger to extend those one or more fingers and “push” the trigger away from the palm. The one-finger trigger 128 is fastened to the first trigger portion 124 via fastener 126 (e.g., a screw), which can be unscrewed to remove the one-finger trigger 128 and replace it with a different interchangeable second trigger portion.

FIGS. 4, 6, and 8, generally at 400, illustrate embodiments of an archery release having a two-finger trigger 410. The two-finger trigger 410 has two curved surfaces that are designed to allow an archer to respectively place one finger on each curved surface of the trigger 410, and pull or push the trigger 410 with both fingers to activate the retaining portion 122 of the archery release 400. Like the embodiment 120 shown in FIGS. 1, 2, 3, 5 and 7 having a one-finger trigger 128, the two-finger trigger 410 embodiment 400 connects the two-finger trigger 410 to the first trigger portion 124 via fastener screw 126 (e.g., a screw).

The ability to interchange one-finger trigger 128 and two-finger trigger 410 on the attachment portion 124 advantageously provides several benefits to an archer. For various reasons, different archers will prefer triggers that require varying amounts of force (push or pull) to activate the trigger to release the bowstring 110 and fire an arrow. For example, depending on the temperature, an archer may prefer a trigger that requires less or more force to activate. In hot summer conditions, an archer may prefer a trigger that requires little force, whereas an archer in cold winter conditions (and who is wearing gloves and other padding) may prefer a trigger that requires more force to pull because of the reduced amount of tactile feedback they experience due to their clothing. The interchangeable one-finger trigger 128 and two-finger trigger 410 allow an archer to quickly customize the archery releases to suit their specific and/or preferred shooting style, without having to switch to an entirely different archery release.

Similarly, archers with different shooting styles may desire different trigger styles—some archers may have a tendency to “punch” when they pull the trigger by moving not just their finger(s) on the trigger, but their hand as well. The tendency to punch can be mitigated by allowing an archer to vary the amount of force needed to activate the trigger. A two-finger trigger 410, for example, may allow an archer to roll their shoulders back when holding the bowstring drawn (a style of shooting known to those skilled in the art as a “back-tension release”), allowing the archer to reduce the amount of tension on their hands and therefore reduce their tendency to “punch” when shooting.

The additional length of the two-finger trigger 410 over a correspondingly sized one-finger trigger 128 allows a user of the two-finger trigger 410 to generate additional torque, thereby reducing the amount of force needed to activate the trigger. For example, an archer using the one-finger trigger 128 may need to pull or push on the one-finger trigger 128 with, for example, approximately 2 pounds of force to activate the trigger 128. In comparison, an archer using the two-finger trigger 410 may need to push or pull on the two-finger trigger 410 with, for example, approximately 0.7 pounds of force to activate the trigger 410. A two-finger trigger 410 generally provides the archer more control and provides a smoother trigger pull, which advantageously reduces an archer's tendency to “punch” the trigger, and thereby improves an archer's shot accuracy.

And, even if an archer opts to use the two-finger trigger 410, the archer is not limited to shooting the bow by activating the trigger 410 with two fingers. Two-finger trigger 410 allows the archer to use one finger (e.g., index finger or middle finger) to push or pull the two-finger trigger 410, and vary the amount of force needed to do so by placing their finger either closer (requiring more force) or further away from (requiring less force) trigger attachment portion 124.

While specific examples of a one-finger trigger 128 and a two-finger trigger 410 have been depicted in FIGS. 1-8, other interchangeable trigger styles can be used as well and attached to trigger attachment portion 124. FIG. 9 depicts an example of such a different style, an archery release 900 having a ring trigger 910 attached to first trigger portion 124 via fastener 126. In this embodiment 900, an archer places one or more fingers into ring trigger 910, and the ring trigger 910 can be either a push- or pull-style trigger.

In other embodiments, the interchangeable trigger is a push- or pull-style three-finger trigger (not depicted), a push- or pull-style four-finger trigger (not depicted), or other known trigger designs. In a manner similar to that described in connection with the two-finger trigger 410, an archer could similarly use one, two, or three fingers to operate a three-finger trigger, and/or use one, two, three, or four fingers to operate a four-finger trigger.

The embodiments described above and depicted in FIGS. 1-9 are illustrative. Various changes, substitutions of equivalents, and other embodiments can be made and utilized. It is therefore intended that the protection granted herein be limited only by the appended claims, and equivalents thereof. 

What is claimed is:
 1. An archery release, comprising: a body; a retaining portion for retaining a string of a bow in a drawn position; a first trigger portion; and an interchangeable second trigger portion coupled to the first trigger portion.
 2. The archery release of claim 1, wherein the interchangeable second trigger portion is coupled to the first trigger portion via a fastener.
 3. The archery release of claim 2, wherein the fastener is a screw.
 4. The archery release of claim 1, wherein the retaining portion is a hook.
 5. The archery release of claim 1, wherein the interchangeable second trigger portion is a one-finger trigger.
 6. The archery release of claim 1, wherein the interchangeable second trigger portion is a two-finger trigger.
 7. The archery release of claim 1, wherein the interchangeable second trigger portion is a pull trigger.
 8. The archery release of claim 1, wherein the interchangeable second trigger portion is a push trigger.
 9. The archery release of claim 1, wherein the interchangeable second trigger portion is a ring trigger.
 10. A method of using an archery release, comprising: a) selecting a trigger having a desired style; b) coupling the selected trigger to an attachment portion of the archery release; c) drawing a string of a bow while retaining the string with the archery release; and d) firing the bow by activating the trigger and releasing the string.
 11. The method of claim 10, wherein the selected trigger is a pull trigger, and activating the trigger comprises pulling the trigger.
 12. The method of claim 10, wherein the selected trigger is a push trigger, and activating the trigger comprises pushing the trigger.
 13. The method of claim 10, wherein the selected trigger is a ring trigger, and activating the trigger comprises one of pushing or pulling the trigger.
 14. The method of claim 10, wherein the selected trigger is a one-finger trigger, and activating the trigger comprises using one finger.
 15. The method of claim 10, wherein the selected trigger is a two-finger trigger, and activating the trigger comprises using one finger.
 16. The method of claim 10, wherein the selected trigger is a two-finger trigger, and activating the trigger comprises using two fingers.
 17. The method of claim 10, wherein coupling the selected trigger to the attachment portion comprises using a screw.
 18. The method of claim 10, further comprising decoupling the selected trigger from the attachment portion and coupling a new trigger to the attachment portion, wherein the selected trigger has a first style and the new trigger has a second style different than the first style.
 19. The method of claim 18, wherein decoupling the selected trigger comprises removing a fastener coupling the selected trigger to the attachment portion, and coupling the new trigger comprises using the fastener to couple the new trigger to the attachment portion. 